Fools Motto
Well-Known Member
I feel a little stupid for asking this, as normally I know the answer - each horse is different and you 'just know'... BUT
I'm currently in the process of breaking in a large warmblood gelding. He is a good 17/17.1, and officially not yet 4 (as in he will be within the next few weeks!) He came to us very much raw, but with a brilliant laid back attitude. Nothing has fazed him. Lunges, longlines, accepts saddles, bridles, bits, rugs, boots and general faffing about. He is very balanced for his size, and is good off the voice commands, although can be almost too laid back!
He has been sat on now about 6 times, 4 of which have been on the lunge, where we have progressed to walking, turning a little, stopping, walking on and last 2 days trotting. It WAS all going smoothly, but ''other person'' did get ejected yesterday halfway through right rein trot. He didn't explode as such, just got suddenly very excited, and did a spin. It was all a bit quick to do anything about it. Poor other person felt very shaken by it. Anyway, I got on, and repeated the trot exercise without hitting the deck (thank god!) and the horse was non the worse. He didn't get frightened, and all in all it was one of those things that can happen. I rode him again today, repeating the whole lunge, walk, trot and halt process. He was very good, little dull of the leg one moment and a bit too keen the next, but that will come with time. A little growl when he 'thought about it', and we are all very pleased with him.
So, (sorry - long) the question. When do we go it alone? (no lunge line). Is there a need for the line when being ridden at this stage? What are its benefits? When we go upto canter, re-use it, or will it just get in the way?
Thoughts and ideas please!
I'm currently in the process of breaking in a large warmblood gelding. He is a good 17/17.1, and officially not yet 4 (as in he will be within the next few weeks!) He came to us very much raw, but with a brilliant laid back attitude. Nothing has fazed him. Lunges, longlines, accepts saddles, bridles, bits, rugs, boots and general faffing about. He is very balanced for his size, and is good off the voice commands, although can be almost too laid back!
He has been sat on now about 6 times, 4 of which have been on the lunge, where we have progressed to walking, turning a little, stopping, walking on and last 2 days trotting. It WAS all going smoothly, but ''other person'' did get ejected yesterday halfway through right rein trot. He didn't explode as such, just got suddenly very excited, and did a spin. It was all a bit quick to do anything about it. Poor other person felt very shaken by it. Anyway, I got on, and repeated the trot exercise without hitting the deck (thank god!) and the horse was non the worse. He didn't get frightened, and all in all it was one of those things that can happen. I rode him again today, repeating the whole lunge, walk, trot and halt process. He was very good, little dull of the leg one moment and a bit too keen the next, but that will come with time. A little growl when he 'thought about it', and we are all very pleased with him.
So, (sorry - long) the question. When do we go it alone? (no lunge line). Is there a need for the line when being ridden at this stage? What are its benefits? When we go upto canter, re-use it, or will it just get in the way?
Thoughts and ideas please!